The New Beginning...

We have officially wrapped up our first year of formal lessons. It has been nothing short of the most peaceful, most productive school year I could ever have hoped for. I will be sure to recap it while it’s on my mind to share! But first, some back story because those who know me know I’m all “long story LONG” and never “long story short…”

A little background about me is that before having children of my own I was a first grade teacher at a public charter school. I loved it! I only taught two years, but I loved every bit of it. I was SO organized. The most type A person I could ever have aspired to be. Every week of worksheets printed for ENTIRE YEAR, organized in color coded bins, everything had a label, my bookshelves and library had a color coded chart. I don’t even know where she came from or where she went sense but Teacher McKenzie has long ceased to exist.

Now don’t get me wrong, I loved the aspect of teaching while I was there. But lo and behold I got introduced to Charlotte Mason. Little by little, my aunt introduced me to this beautiful concept of what is now shaping our homeschool. I grew up with homeschooled cousins so the concept wasn’t new to me, I just never thought about it. I don't think I had a long term vision passed the next six months... ever. It was always “far away” and then I had this adorable six month old baby (just like I’ve got now years later) snuggled up with her big blue eyes staring at me and all I could think was, “HOW and WHY would I want to drop you off all day long!?” Even in the name of education I just couldn’t see that in our future, and so the reading of all the homeschool philosophy books began. 

I knew I had time to process this because she was so tiny, but any parent in the middle of the little years knows it’s tiring, kindergarten seemed SO far away, and what happens? #2 comes along while still figuring out life with #1 and you’re exhausted in the best way all over again. All of this to say, the seed of a vision was planted so long ago and my path has clearly pivoted some because I never expected to be here homeschooling until it was all I could picture for our family. 

I think becoming a mom has grown me as an educator in ways I’d never of dreamed. In a family of educators I thought I had a concept of what homeschooling could look like but it’s been so much more. It’s been soul shaping. It’s been a true gift of educating myself in a rich way alongside my children. And I’m ever thankful I’ve still got years and years to go, and another little one to bring up as I continue to grow in this space. It’s a gift I will always be grateful for, the friends and family who planted seeds, supported us in the decision, and my husband above all who made a way for it to be possible. 

Now, with the long story long yapping aside, I will dive into our Year 1 recap with The Children’s Tradition in the next few posts!